Bayonne's Oresko School team wins state F.I.R.E. Bowl competition

Courtesy of the City of BayonneF.I.R.E. Bowl Champions: The F.I.R.E. Bowl team from Nicholas Oresko School #14 of Bayonne has won the statewide F.I.R.E. Bowl championship. The Bayonne students defeated a team from Jersey City in the seventh annual F.I.R.E. Bowl Challenge play-off that took place this month at Kean University in Union. Pictured left to right: Moderator Tony Caputo (News 12 New Jersey), Dan De Trolio (Public Education Advisory Council Chairman, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety), Alexis Konn (Bayonne team winner), Kenny Tarantino (Bayonne team winner), Gerry Konn (Bayonne team winner), Althea Ato (Bayonne team winner), Barbara DeBenedictis (team coach, Nicholas Oresko School #14), and Chris Czuba (Fire Official, Bayonne Fire Prevention Bureau).

The team from Nicholas Oresko School #14 in Bayonne won the sixth annual statewide F.I.R.E. Bowl Challenge, defeating a team from Jersey City in the F.I.R.E. Bowl play-off.

The F.I.R.E. Bowl, which was held at Kean University in Union, pitted teams of students from schools around the state in a competition testing their knowledge of fire safety issues and procedures.

"On behalf of the entire Bayonne community, I would like to congratulate the students of Oresko School #14 on their statewide victory in the F.I.R.E. Bowl competition," Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith said.

In all, 17 schools from six New Jersey municipalities participated in the Bowl. Preparation for the Bowl began in November 2011, when students received study booklets.

The first round of the competition was a written test administered in April. The teams from Jersey City and Bayonne emerged from that round as the top two in the state and participated in a playoff earlier this month at the Little Theater at Kean University. The moderator of the event was Tony Caputo, a correspondent for News 12 New Jersey.

Bayonne Public Safety Director Jason O'Donnell congratulated the teams on their success in the competition, while Bayonne Fire Chief Gregory Rogers commended the Bayonne team for its knowledge of fire safety.

"I consider myself the proudest Fire Chief in the State," Rogers said. "The partnership between the Bayonne Fire Department and the Bayonne Board of Education, coupled with the hard work of our students and staff members, has led us to victory once again. And, of course, the ultimate victory is being a community of knowledgeable, fire-safe students and citizens."

F.I.R.E. Bowl is sponsored by the New Jersey State Firemen’s Benevolent Association (FMBA), Hartz Mountain Industries, Joshua Marcus Group Promotions, and IMTT Bayonne.